NEW! Is the Japan Rail (JR) Pass Worth It For My Trip?

The Short Answer: For the vast majority of travellers today, the nationwide National Japan Rail (JR) Pass is no longer worth it due price hikes in 2023 of roughly 70%. You will almost certainly save money by purchasing individual point-to-point train tickets or utilising highly targeted regional passes instead, unless you are covering massive distances across the country in a very short window.

To make the pass worthwhile, you must take multiple long-distance Shinkansen (bullet train) journeys, typically visiting three or more regions (e.g., Kanto, Kansai, and Hiroshima/Kanazawa) within 7 days.